Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Spamoco’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Spathiphyllum  plant named ‘Spamoco’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright, outwardly arching and uniform plant habit; freely clumping growth habit; bushy and dense plants; glossy dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; white-colored spathes that are positioned slightly above to clearly above the foliar plane on strong and erect scapes; and good inflorescence longevity.

Botanical designation: Spathiphyllum Schott.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SPAMOCO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSpathiphyllum plant, botanically known as Spathiphyllum Schott. andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Spamoco’.

The new Spathiphyllum plant is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the Inventor in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new year-round floweringSpathiphyllum plants that have glossy dark green-colored leaves, largewhite-colored spathes and good postproduction longevity.

The new Spathiphyllum plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in December, 2012 of a proprietary selection ofSpathiphyllum Schott. identified as code number 20112154-14, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofSpathiphyllum Schott. identified as code number 20120145-01, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Spathiphyllum plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands in March, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Spathiphyllum plant by in vitro meristemculture in a controlled environment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands sinceAugust, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this newSpathiphyllum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Spamoco’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Spamoco’ as a new and distinct Spathiphyllumplant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright, outwardly arching and uniform        plant habit.    -   2. Freely clumping growth habit; bushy and dense plants.    -   3. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. White-colored spathes that are positioned slightly above to        clearly above the foliar plane on strong and erect scapes.    -   6. Good inflorescence longevity.

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum are shorter than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are darker green in        color than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum are taller than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   2. Spathes of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are white in color        whereas spathes of plants of the male parent selection are        creamy white in color.

Plants of the new Spathiphyllum can also be compared to plants ofSpathiphyllum Schott. ‘Spaamerigro’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.31,332. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Spathiphyllumdiffer from plants of ‘Spaamerigro’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spathiphyllum are shorter than plants of        ‘Spaamerigro’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are darker green in        color than leaves of plants of ‘Spaamerigro’.    -   3. Scapes of plants of the new Spathiphyllum are shorter than        scapes of plants of ‘Spaamerigro’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Spathiphyllum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Spathiphyllum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 3) is a side perspectiveview of a typical plant of ‘Spamoco’ grown in a container and is thesame photograph as filed in the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser.No. 62/918,087.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 3) is a side perspectiveview of a typical plant of ‘Spamoco’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3 of 3) is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Spamoco’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in 14-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Naaldwijk, The Netherlandsand under cultural practices typical of commercial Spathiphyllumproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 19° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 24° C.and light levels averaged 5 klux. Plants were 24 weeks fromtransplanting rooted young plants when the photographs and the detaileddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Spathiphyllum Schott. ‘Spamoco’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Spathiphyllum Schott. identified as code number 20112154-14,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Spathiphyllum Schott. identified as code number 20120145-01,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at            temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 13 days at            temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 119 days            at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 130 days            at temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright,            outwardly arching and uniform plant habit; overall plant            shape, broadly inverted triangle; moderately vigorous growth            habit and slow to moderate growth rate.        -   Clumping habit.—Freely clumping habit, bushy and dense            growth habit with about eleven clumps developing per plant.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of leaf plane.—About            30.8 cm.        -   Plant height, from soil level to top of            inflorescences.—About 49.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 49.4 cm.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 20.6 cm. Width: About 8.2 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:            Long apiculate. Base: Short attenuate. Margin: Entire;            moderately undulate; not lobed. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:            Darker and more intense than 141A. Developing leaves, lower            surface: Close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper            surface: Close to between 139A and N189A; venation, close to            NN137A to NN137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:            Close to NN137C; venation, close to 145A. Petioles: Length            (excluding geniculum): About 9.8 cm. Diameter, just below            geniculum: About 4 mm. Diameter, at plant base: About 1 cm.            Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface:            Close to 147D. Color, lower surface: Close to 143A.            Geniculum length: About 3 cm. Geniculum diameter: About            4.5 mm. Geniculum texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Geniculum color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 143B. Wing length: About            10.1 cm. Wing diameter: About 5 mm. Wing color: Close to            137A to 137B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement and flowering habit.—Moderately to            strongly cupped erect spathes with columnar spadices held            slightly above to clearly above the foliar plane on strong            and erect scapes; flowering structures arise from leaf            axils; plants begin flowering about five months after            transplanting rooted young plants; freely and continuous            flowering year-round under greenhouse conditions in The            Netherlands; freely flowering habit, typically about six            inflorescences developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; fragrance, sweet and            pleasant.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences last more than three            weeks on the plant; inflorescences persistent.        -   Spathe.—Length: About 16.3 cm. Width: About 6.8 cm. Depth:            About 5 cm. Shape: Elliptic to slightly obovate. Apex:            Apiculate; moderate twisting. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire; somewhat incurved. Texture and luster, front            surface: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat leathery; slightly            glossy. Texture and luster, rear surface: Smooth, glabrous;            somewhat leathery; moderately glossy. Color: When            developing, front surface: Close to 157D; apex, close to            143A. When developing, rear surface: Close to 157C to 157D;            apex, close to 143A. Fully developed, front surface: Close            to between 155C and 157D; apex, close to 143B; main vein,            close to 148D; color does not change with development. Fully            developed, rear surface: Close to 155A; apex and main vein,            close to 143B; color does not change with development.        -   Spadix.—Length: About 5.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm. Shape:            Columnar; apex, obtuse; base, obtuse; cross-section,            circular. Aspect: Close to erect, about 5° from scape axis.            Color, immature: Close to 145C. Color, mature: Close to            between 155D and 158D. Flowers: Quantity per spadix:            Numerous, about 175. Shape: Rounded. Height: About 3 mm.            Diameter: About 4 mm. Anther color: Close to NN155B to            NN155C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155B            to 155C. Stigma color: Close to between 155D and 158D. Ovary            color: Close to 158D.        -   Scapes.—Length: About 39.4 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Spathiphyllum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Spathiphyllum    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common    to Spathiphyllum plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Spathiphyllum have been    observed to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to    about 40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 13.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Spathiphyllum plant named ‘Spamoco’as illustrated and described.